Denise Abdale

Author Bio          

Denise Abdale is the author of a growing collection of insight-driven children’s books designed to help families navigate the hard seasons of childhood. Drawing from 40+ years as an educator and speech therapist- and personal experience as a mom – she helps parents uncover the “why” behind behavior and open conversations that bring hope, relief, and connection. When children struggle emotionally, socially, behaviorally, or developmentally, families are often left feeling overwhelmed and unsure how to help. Denise creates children’s books that help initiate conversations that gently open the door to difficult topics – helping children feel understood while giving parents, educators, and caregivers a natural way to begin meaningful conversations. Her books help families move from confusion and frustration to understanding, hope, and connection. Because when childhood gets complicated, understanding becomes the bridge.

Author Q & A

  • What do you do when you’re  – not writing?

When I’m not writing I’m a passionate gardener, a skilled needleworker, an avid mystery reader and a fan of 1930’s-1940’s film noir mysteries.

  • Is there anything that you are passionate about besides writing?

Yes, there is. I’m a big supporter of Donors Choose. I give generously to my local schools to support those teachers, especially the teachers who have classrooms of pre-k -grade 2 and special ed. I also support many animal charities, such as animal shelters like Bideawee, NorthShore Animal League, ASPCA etc.

  • What inspires you to write?

I saw a need in the picture book community. They never covered topics with kids that had issues that I saw in my students.  I wanted to write books about a character that would be going through what my children were experiencing. I write books with the child who will be reading it in mind. My character always has a situation, condition that one of my own students had. I never saw books about them.

  • What makes your book different on the subject?

I made a promise to help as many children as possible be seen, heard, understood, and loved for who they are – warts and all- to not feel like they are the only one with this issue, that they are alone, isolated. That there are others just like them and give subtle possible suggested solutions in the books to help both them and their parents, and that by reading the books together, it will open the way to a conversation/ discussion about their situation.

  • What can we learn from your books?

My books document the journey of a character as they navigate life with a disability -be it physical, learning or social/emotional and what they do to deal with the obstacles that they encounter. My hope is that a child who may be struggling picks up the book and sees that they are not alone, there is someone like them in a story. Maybe they will try some of the things that the character did and they will get some positive results. I also want parents to read the stories with their child and talk about the events that happen in the story. I want the books to open the lines of communication between parent and child.

  • Do you have more books planned?

Yes, I have many more books already written. They just need to be published.

  • Can you give us a hint about them?

HAHA well, all I can say is there’s a series about two stray cats, a detective book, a whole assortment of independent stories, a trilogy middle grade novel and I’m toying with a graphic novel but along the lines of Captain Underpants – nothing too heavy.

  • What is your writing process, what gets you writing, where do your ideas come from?

I don’t have a specific writing process, but I do some of my best writing between 2 AM and 5 AM. I’m usually sound asleep, then start having a dream with dialogue and full color pictures running through it. My eyes creak open, and I know that I have to get up immediately and start writing. For if I don’t, that scene or children’s book that I just dreamt, will be gone forever, never to be remembered again.

I get ideas for my stories from many different things – a picture in a catalog, a tv show, a street billboard, a childhood memory, people from my childhood, former students, my son misreading something and telling me about it.

  • What is your latest book?

                 

author: Denise Abdale

Imprint: Denise Abdale Books

website: https://deniseabdaleauthor.com

ISBN Ebook: B0H2RHYWD2

ISBN Paperback: 9781968701031

ISBN Hardback: 9781968701048

ISBN Activity/ Coloring Book: 9781968701079

Companion/Caregiver Parent Guide: 9781968701062

pages: 32

ages: 4-8 years old